A MINISTER in the Welsh Government has been criticised for giving his ex-wife a job.

Caerphilly Labour AM Jeff Cuthbert, who has been Deputy Minister for Skills since May, recently appointed his former wife Catherine to work in his constituency office.

Last night the National Assembly confirmed that because Ms Cuthbert is employed on a temporary contract, and because she was not a family member, there was no need under the rules for the job to be advertised or for Assembly Commission officials to be involved in the selection process.

An Assembly insider said: “It seems that Jeff Cuthbert has appointed his ex-wife to work for him on the Assembly’s payroll. While this may not break any rules, it doesn’t look good that a Minister in the Welsh Government is prepared to take on someone who has been so closely related to them.”

A spokesman for Mr Cuthbert said: “Catherine Cuthbert is employed on a temporary job-share contract at Jeff’s constituency office. Appropriate information was provided to relevant Assembly officials prior to the temporary appointment being made and no further action was required.”

He added that the Cuthberts separated 20 years ago and were divorced about four years later.

Mr Cuthbert, 63, has represented Caerphilly since 2003.

The issue of AMs employing their relatives has been a matter of criticism for years. In June it was revealed that 16 AMs had paid more than £850,000 to a total of 17 family members over a three-year period during the Assembly term which ended before May’s election.

Two years ago an independent panel appointed by the Assembly Commission to investigate the remuneration of AMs included among its recommendations one that would have barred the recruitment of additional family members.

AMs decided not to adopt the recommendation after concerns over the possibility of a legal challenge under human rights legislation by a notional AM’s relative denied the opportunity to apply for a job.

A letter from the Assembly Commission to a member of the public who sought details of payments made to AMs’ relatives under the Freedom of Information Act said there had recently been a change in procedures concerning the issue.

It stated: “In their report, Fit for Purpose, published in March 2011, the Independent Remuneration Board said that: ‘Members’ family may continue to be employed but the employing Member’s role in the recruitment process for new appointments will be reduced. Final interviews and assessments will be conducted by the Assembly’s human resources team. The family member, if appointed, must demonstrably be the best candidate for the job in terms of skills, capability and experience’.”

The new arrangements do not, however, apply when appointments are made to temporary positions.

A spokesman for the National Assembly said: “In this case the appointment was a temporary one and there was no need to go through the normal selection process.

“The special arrangements relating to family members also do not apply because the individual concerned is not a current family member of the AM she is working for.”